My Journey Through Life

August 1950 Ellen sat at the kitchen table peeling an apple, the goal, as always, was to peel it in one continuous strip. She was the champion apple-peeler in the family, but today she was off her game. Her sisters, Elaine and Maria were doing a better job today. “I can’t believe Luther is bringing some total stranger here for dinner!” Ellen finally said, no longer able to contain her annoyance with her brother. “He’s not a stranger to Luther,” Elaine stated, smiling at the long curl of apple peel she had just completed. “Well he is to the rest of us! I really resent being expected to bake a pie for someone I don’t know, and probably won’t even like.” The girl’s mother, Suzanne, walked into the kitchen just in time to hear Ellen’s grumbling. “Now, now, Ellen, you’re far too old to be acting so childish, a friend of your brother’s is a friend to us all. We taught you better than that, where’s your Christian charity?” Ellen rolled her eyes, but kept a still tongue. Even though she was...